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Installation

STS Defence Limited operates a complete Post Design Support (PDS) role for a number of Warship Support Agencies, providing a full range of services to the MoD in support of in-service equipment and systems.

The MCMV contract in particular requires an innovative approach by all involved and has recently earned the company a Commendation Award for outstanding achievements, from the Chief Executive of the Warship Support Agency and Director General Nuclear Mr J D Coles.

The aims and objectives of all our WSA contracts is to provide the MoD with a mobile team capable of offering an integrated cradle to grave concept for the timely installation of systems or individual equipments into any military platform.  In addition to this most of the work undertaken for the MoD is in Fleet Time, therefore kept within tight timescales, and more often than not working alongside other Yard authorities.

During the past four years STS Defence has provided the MoD with diverse support covering the following activities:

• Project Management.
• Production of Installation Guidance Information.
• The Installation and integration of systems & equipment into existing platforms.
• System Design.
• SWSE (Ships Weapons Support Engineering)
• Attendance of acceptance trials.
• Setting-to-Work new systems and equipment.
• Manufacturing & design facilities.
• Magnetic awareness.
• TEMPEST & EMC awareness.

In addition to A&A's, STS Defence have endeavoured to maintain an innovative approach to the ruggedised environment of the MoD and actively developed, manufactured and installed a range of non-combustible ships furniture, which conforms to all the relevant Defence Standards. This is in response to a MoD directive to remove wooden furniture from all naval platforms. The design features the capability to hold 19" rack mountable equipment while still meeting the anti magnetic requirements of MCMVs

In 2003 during the Iraq War, STS Defence Ltd carried out installation work for the Shallow Water Influence Minesweeping System (SWIMS) as an 'Operation Telic' Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR).  This system was used to help clear the Shatt Al Arab, the Khawr Abd Allah river and the approaches to Umm Qasr and allowed the passage of RFA Sir Galahad, the first ship to carry humanitarian supplies into an Iraqi port. 

The MCM mission during operations in Iraq was to help maintain sea lines of communication and to clear the approach to Umm Qasr to enable humanitarian aid to enter Iraq. Key to achieving the humanitarian mission was the opening of the Khawr Abd Allah waterway, which separates Iraq from Kuwait, and is the route from the sea to Umm Qasr. Conditions for MCM in the waterway were expected to be poor with brackish water, very poor underwater visibility and tidal streams of up to four knots, all in a narrow, unmarked and poorly charted channel.

As operations approached, the US CH-53 helicopters, with a new towed influence sweep, were augmented from the US and divers from the RN, USN and Royal Australian Navy were poised in USS GUNSTON HALL. In addition, the hydrographic vessel HMS ROEBUCK was assigned to the Task Group, providing valuable data and an ability to survey approaches and routes rapidly.

MCM operations started with a patrol boat sweep of the Khawr Abd Allah to intercept any minelayers, in parallel with the seizure of the Al Faw peninsula by land forces. Two minelayers with rather primitive but highly effective covert minelaying systems were intercepted, still with over 60 mines on board. This focused the minds of the MCMVs as they pushed forward, with the weather adding its own challenge in the form of 60 knot winds and sandstorms.

HMS BROCKLESBY led the initial Surface MCM group controlling SWIMS, followed by the command MCMV, USS DEXTROUS plotting and reporting seabed contacts to the rest of the force. The following MCMVs then relocated, detected and destroyed mine-like contacts thereby widening the channel.

The initial breakthrough to Umm Qasr was completed in four days, followed by route widening - essential for the safe navigation of standard merchant ships - and clearance operations. Over 450 seabed contacts were discovered, of which 15 were mines.

On 28 March HMS SANDOWN led RFA SIR GALAHAD to Umm Qasr, bringing the first vital humanitarian aid to the people of Iraq. This marked the successful completion of one of the most advanced and tactically challenging MCM operations ever undertaken.

Commendation Award

Quote from Commendation Award by the Chief Executive of the Warship Support Agency and Director General Nuclear Mr J D Coles: -

"STS Defence Ltd, through Alan Mackinnon (Project Manager) and his team, has provided weapons systems engineering support to the MCMV IPT for 4 years. Their input has consistently achieved excellence. STS responded magnificently to the challenge of OP TELIC. They were responsible for the ship fit of 6 UORs to the 8 ships deployed, including the mission critical fits for precise navigation and IFF. They displayed responsiveness, persistence, determination and professionalism to achieve the fits given only a few weeks notice. They had no hesitation in agreeing to work in the Gulf at a time when this presented personal risk and discomfort, without their presence these critical UOR fits could not have been completed. With an increasing number of A&As being completed in Fleet Time the tempo and importance of STS's work has increased. Since last April STS have completed 70 fleet time A&A fits on MCMVs. Throughout they display a commendable commitment to our customer's needs, a willingness to work with all stakeholders, and a flexibility to work around problems"